1-2 Razorback finish, team runner-up in NCAA South Central

COLLEGE STATION – No. 7 Arkansas finished as the runner-up team in the NCAA South Central Regional at Texas A&M’s Watts course to secure an automatic qualification for the NCAA Championships for the 14th consecutive year.

Tulane defended its team title with 44 points while the Razorbacks scored 48 in placing second for the fifth time in the past seven South Central Regional meets held.

Nick Busienei and Ernest Cheruiyot led Arkansas in placing first and second with times of 28:57.1 and 29:02.5, respectively, over the 10,000m course. Texas A&M’s Michael Moiben finished third in 20:04.4.

Busienei registered the fifth consecutive South Central Regional victory by a Razorback joining Timothy Chesondin (2025), Kirami Yego (2024), and Patrick Kiprop (2022, 2023).

James Sankei posted a time of 29:25.5 to finish fifth as the third Razorback. Allen Bonnesen placed 18 with a clocking of 30:16.8 while Trey Caldwell wrapped up the team score in placing 22nd with a time of 30:26.3.

The top five finishers for Arkansas each earned All-Region honors for placing in the top 25.

The sixth and seventh runners for the Razorbacks were Jackson Free (30:45.4) and Trenton Sandler (30:46.1) who battled for positions 28th and 29th in the homestretch to the finish line.

Tulane tabulated 44 points from its top five finishing 4-6-9-11-14 while Arkansas’ top five finished 1-2-5-18-22.

Stephen F. Austin placed third in team scoring at 104 ahead of Texas A&M (126), TCU (160), and Incarnate Word (213).

Arkansas will compete in the NCAA Championships next Saturday, November 21, in Terre Haute, Indiana.